The Empire Film Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker — Final Trailer Breakdown Special Oct 21, 2019

Show notes

It's here. At long last, the final trailer for JJ Abrams' Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker — the ninth and final film in the Skywalker Saga — has arrived, and naturally it got the internet's tongues a-wagging. And, because you demanded it, here's the Empire Podcast's near-hour-long reaction to a trailer that's just over two minutes long. So, join Chris Hewitt, James Dyer, Helen O'Hara, and Ben Travis for a fun-filled, fact-packed, frame-by-frame dissection of the trailer, with more wild theories and unfounded speculation than you could shake a laser sword at. Just what is Bendemption? How do space horses work? And can droids get syphilis? Just some of the questions posed, and unanswered, within. Enjoy.

#386 — Jim Sturgess; Glenn Leyburn & Lisa Barros D'Sa (live in Belfast); Ruben Fleischer (not live in Belfast) Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

This week's episode sees Chris Hewitt and Helen O'Hara make a (very arguably) triumphant homecoming, as the Empire Podcast mini-tour rocks up for its final show as part of the Cinemagic Film Festival in Belfast. And they bring two Wee English Fellas — James Dyer and Ben Travis — with them for a fun-filled show in which they discuss the week's movie news (Batman! Murder Mystery 2! The Dolittle trailer!), review Zombieland: Double Tap, Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, and El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and take audience Qs. We also have a trio of ace guests — Belfast-based directors, Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa talk their new movie, Ordinary Love; Jim Sturgess flies in to talk about his career, including doing a sex scene in Belfast; and a pre-recorded chat with Ruben Fleischer, director of Zombieland: Double Tap. Enjoy, so you will! Ah, go on, go on, go on...

David Arnold And Michael Giacchino Interview Special Oct 17, 2019

Show notes

David Arnold and Michael Giacchino are two of the best composers in the business, with the likes of Casino Royale, Up, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek, Lost, Sherlock, and much more. They're in London to prepare for a special show at the Royal Albert Hall called Settling The Score, in which the two old friends will duke it out, rap-battle style. Only if a rap battle had a huge orchestra, and a little man waving a baton. Naturally, we couldn't let them do this without nabbing them for a podcast, so in this very special episode Chris Hewitt sits down with the pair for a freewheeling and very funny conversation that touches upon... well, pretty much everything but their music. Although they do eventually get around to talking about their work on Bond, Marvel movies, and more. Oh, and JJ Abrams makes an appearance. Sort of. Enjoy!

#385 - Ben Wheatley & Corin Hardy (live in Brighton), Sienna Miller Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

This week's Empire Podcast ably fills the gap in your lives that you didn't even know was there: the experience of listening to a film director speed-carving a pumpkin on a podcast. Yes, this episode sees the Empire Podtour juggernaut roll into Brighton, where Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Terri White discuss the week's movie news (Marty vs the MCU), review American Woman, Gemini Man, and The Day Shall Come, and answer audience Q&As. Oh, and local heroes Ben Wheatley and Corin Hardy drop by - and Corin shows off his speed-carving prowess in a genuine podcast world first. This episode also contains a fun studio interview between Chris and Sienna Miller, talking about her phenomenal performance in American Woman, and her desire to play Catwoman. Enjoy.

London Film Festival Special ft. Ben Mendelsohn, Jimmie Fails, and Morfydd Clark Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

We love the BFI London Film Festival round here at Empire Towers. So, with this year's festival still in full swing, we were delighted to host our first ever Empire Podcast roundtable, in which Chris Hewitt talks to three actors who each have films showing at the festival. In this engrossing, frank, and often hilarious chat, Ben Mendelsohn (star of The King and Babyteeth), Morfydd Clark (star of Eternal Beauty, The Personal History Of David Copperfield, and Saint Maud), and Jimmie Fails (star of and inspiration for The Last Black Man In San Francisco) pull back the curtain on what it means to be an actor, their various films in the festival, and how to avoid being a complete A-hole. Enjoy.

#384 - Dolly Wells (live), Joaquin Phoenix (not live) Oct 05, 2019

Show notes

This week sees the first-ever Empire Podcast tour roll into Chris Hewitt's spiritual home, Liverpool. And, in a fun-packed show at FACT in front of a sold-out audience, Chris, Helen O'Hara and James Dyer discuss the week's movie news (including Spidey's return to the MCU), review Joker, Judy, and Good Posture, and take a whole heap of audience Qs. They're also joined by Dolly Wells, actor-turned-director, whose train got into Liverpool just in time for her to talk about her first film behind the camera, the rather wonderful Good Posture. Plus, back in the studio, John Nugent talks to some bloke called Joaquin Phoenix about some movie in which he plays a clown. Sounds like a laugh. Everyone loves clowns. And after last week's sound snafu in York, you'll be delighted to know this one sounds better, although some mic hiss does intrude towards the end. Hopefully it won't spoil your experience too much. Enjoy.

The Greatest - Horror Movies, In Association With Sky Cinema Oct 03, 2019

Show notes

Do you like scary movies? What's your favourite scary movie? Two questions that have dominated conversations since the dawn of cinema, when people were terrified by the sight of a train coming straight at them. And, in this very special edition of the Empire Podcast, brought to you by Sky Cinema, Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, Absolute Radio's Dave Berry, and Sky Cinema's Alex Zane attempt to answer those questions, and one more for good measure: what is the scariest movie of all time? From Halloween to, erm, Halloween (but not Halloween), our fearless foursome discuss everything from slashers to supernatural horrors, and reveal the movies that make sure they sleep with the lights on. Oh, and there's a fair amount of terrible impressions and loud noises as per. And if, after hearing their choices, you want to check out some of the movies they talk about, the Halloween Collection is available now on Sky Cinema. Enjoy - if you dare!

#383 - (Not) Live In York ft. David Koepp, Craig Roberts Sep 28, 2019

Show notes

So, this week's Empire Podcast was meant to be the recording of our latest live show, in front of a wonderful, sold-out audience at CityScreen in York. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, the sound quality of the recording just wasn't good enough. So, instead, Chris Hewitt and James Dyer - just back from York - bundled into the podbooth at Empire Towers to record an emergency pod, along with John Nugent. In it, they discuss several of the audience questions from the night before, review a whole bunch of films including The Last Tree, Ready Or Not, Hotel Mumbai, and The Goldfinch, and discuss the week's movie news. You'll also hear from David Koepp, the screenwriter of Jurassic Park and author of the new thriller, Cold Storage. And we've managed to salvage most of the interview with the wonderful Craig Roberts, writer/director of Eternal Beauty, who was our guest in York. But be warned: the sound quality might indicate why we're loathe to run the whole show. Enjoy.

#382 - Live In Edinburgh ft. Jack Lowden Sep 20, 2019

Show notes

This week's episode sees the first-ever Empire Podcast tour roll into Edinburgh for a fun-packed show at the venerable venue, the Cameo, as part of the Edinburgh International Magazine Festival. Join Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Terri White as they discuss the week's movie news, review Ad Astra, The Farewell, and The Kitchen, and answer a series of questions from the sell-out audience. Also, local hero Jack Lowden, star of Dunkirk, Fighting With My Family, and Mary Queen Of Scots, drops in to talk about doing a Trainspotting live read, why he considers acting to be a 'sadistic' profession, and wanting to be Del Boy. It's all here in your latest slice of (recorded as) live film-related fun. NB: as it was recorded live, there's a slight hum throughout. Do let us know your feedback on the feedback. And, as ever, enjoy.

#381 - Live From The London Podcast Festival ft. Colin Trevorrow Sep 16, 2019

Show notes

This week's episode is a live show which sees the Empire Podteam - Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Terri White - embark upon their first-ever tour, starting in the far-flung city of... London. Kings Place, to be precise, just around the corner from the Empire office. Not exactly clocking up the air miles, huh. Recorded as part of the London Podcast Festival, this typically raucous live show sees the quartet review Downton Abbey, For Sama, and Hustlers (complete with eye-watering tale of real live strip clubs), then discuss the week's movie news, before being joined by a brand-new member of the team: director Colin Trevorrow. There might be talk of his brand-new Jurassic World short film, Battle At Big Rock. And he might even stick around for the audience Q&A. We couldn't possibly say either way. Please accept our apologies in advance. Enjoy.

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